Kiran Pahal

Kiran Pahal (5 August 2000) is an Indian athlete from Haryana. She specialises in 400 metres run. She is the second athlete from India to go sub-51sec in 2024.[1] She qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris in 400m.[2][3]

Early life

Pahal is from Rohtak, Haryana. She has no sponsors and trains on her own in Haryana under her coach Akaash Chikara.[2][4] After her father passed away, she has been having differences with her mother and siblings and trains on her own. Senior athlete Hima Das has been a great support, she said.[4]

Career

Pahal is a three time National champion. In June 2022, she won the 400m individual event at the inter state championship at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai clocking 52.57.[5] She was part of the 4 × 400 m relay teams that won the National title in October 2019 at Ranchi and June 2021 at Patiala. She also takes part in 100m and 200m but has been focussing on 400m. She is ranked 139 in world rankings in 400m.[5]

She clocked 50.92s in 400m in the semifinals at the National Inter-State Athletics Championships at Panchkula on 27 June 2024 to qualify for Olympics. The qualifying mark for Olympics was 50.95s.[6] The Indian female athlete to take part in the 400m at Olympics was Nirmal Sheoran at Rio Olympics in 2016.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Kiran Pahal qualifies for Paris Olympics, becomes 2nd fastest Indian women's 400m runner". India Today. 2024-06-27. Retrieved 2024-06-28.
  2. ^ a b Ganesan, Uthra (2024-06-27). "Paris 2024: Kiran Pahal qualifies for women's 400m in Olympics from National Inter-state Championships". Sportstar. Retrieved 2024-06-28.
  3. ^ "Kiran Pahal secures Olympic berth in women's 400m". The Times of India. 2024-06-27. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-06-28.
  4. ^ a b "Fight with family, financial struggles and injuries: Quartermiler Kiran Pahal overcomes hurdles to qualify for Paris Olympics". The Indian Express. 2024-06-27. Retrieved 2024-06-28.
  5. ^ a b "Pahal KIRAN | Profile | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2024-06-28.
  6. ^ "Indian sports highlights, June 27: 400m runner Kiran Pahal qualifies for Paris Olympics". ESPN. 2024-06-27. Retrieved 2024-06-28.
  7. ^ "Kiran Pahal secures surprise Olympic berth; injury ends Eldhose Paul's dream". Onmanorama. Retrieved 2024-06-28.